Kohli smashes 17th Test fifty amid Curran's cruelty, IND - 160/6 at Tea

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After the top order fell prey to Sam Curran’s astonishing bowling in the first session, skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane probably planned to anchor the innings together for a long while.

The duo resumed the game from 76/3 in the second session and successfully reached the 100-run mark in the 28^th over.

Since Rahane has a superb batting record away from home, he was expected to trouble the hosts along with the skipper a bit more. But England bowlers didn’t lose the momentum what they gathered before grabbing the lunch.

It was Ben Stokes who turned out to be the second wrecker-in-chief who left each and everyone stunned in the Indian dressing room. Right after the Indian vice-captain smashed a four to get 100 runs in the board, Stokes sent back to the dressing room.

A shorter delivery with a wider line was enough to bamboozle Rahane. The ball came towards him, but a wrong shot selection sent him packing at a score of 15 runs. Jennings made no mistake in catching the ball and Stokes got the first wicket against his name.

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— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) August 2, 2018

Stokes gave another shock to India in the 30^th over when he had Dinesh Karthik on a 4-ball duck. The ball went right into the stumps after hitting the ground. The Indian wicketkeeper was very late to respond to a late inswing while Stokes completed his 100 Test wickets.

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— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) August 2, 2018

With half of the team back in the dressing room, responsibility and pressure, both were surmounting the Indian captain. A few dropped chances from the English slip cordon not only kept the hopes alive but also gave a chance to the new man in, Hardik Pandya to provide the much-needed support to his captain.

The duo of Kohli and Pandya added 48 runs for the sixth wicket before the danger youngster, Sam Curran bowled a lethal bumper to get rid of Pandya.

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— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) August 2, 2018

With this wicket, Curran had 4 scalps so far and became the youngest bowler to take a 4-fer in Test cricket.

Minutes before the tea break, Ashwin joined Kohli at the crease while the Indian skipper got his 17^th Test half-century.

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— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) August 2, 2018

Team India lost 3 more wickets and scored 84 runs before heading for the tea break.

Brief Scores:

1st Test Day 2: ENG 1st innings 287 all-out; India 1st innings 160/6 (V Kohli 53; S Curran 10-38-4) at Tea